High Ability Update

Our 1st grade HA language arts curriculum focuses on connections. The lessons involve interpreting/solving ciphers, puzzles, and symbols relative to language. I introduced the students to the generalizations of connections. Connections show relationships among objects, feelings, people, and places. We discussed physical, social, and emotional connections. Connections may change or stay the same over time. Students paired objects and ideas together. We discussed that some connections are undeniable. For example, a shoe and a foot. Other connections are more personal and can vary greatly. Students had their first HA homework assignment. Thank you for helping them find and write down connections made in your homes. I emailed home about the homework assignment on Tuesday.

Our study of geometry has begun. We will be taking their knowledge of shapes beyond the number of sides. Before we know it, these students will be little experts on polygons!

Our second grade HA language arts curriculum further explores connections. Later this year, we will have two novel studies that involve many social and emotional connections. This week, students grouped together several pairs of connections. The connections were provided; the students had to group them together as they saw fit. They created their own categories of connections based on connection generalizations.

Students took pre-assessments this week. After students look over their graded pre-assessments next week, I will hang on to them all year. At the end of the year, they will retake it. Taking the pre-assessment gave them a peek as to what is to come this year in HA. At the end of the year, they will be able to compare the assessments to realize how much they've learned:)

Change is everywhere! Third graders in HA language arts have begun exploring the concept of change. Students were paired up and given the task of coming up with 20 examples of change. After brainstorming, students grouped their examples into categories of their choosing. Change Generalizations are listed on a poster in our room, and we will be referring to the generalizations often.

Students took their pre-assessments this week. Next week, students will get a chance to look over their graded pre-assessments. I will hang on to them all year. At the end of the year, students will retake it. It will be rewarding for the students to compare the two and realize how much they've learned! When they were done with their pre-assessments, students started working on a logic puzzle of sorts. I won't be giving them the solution until next Wednesday. When I heard one student say he was going to ask Alexa, I asked the students to please not ask Alexa, Google, YouTube, etc... They may ask family members. If you don't see or hear about the puzzle, no worries. It isn't homework, just a little something extra.

Referring to the generalizations of change, students brainstormed and categorized examples of change. Change is everywhere. It occurs at different rates of speed. Change can be systematic or random. It is caused by nature or humans. Change can be positive or negative.

You may remember your students bringing home a Proud Packet at the end of last year. The Proud Packet contains a pre-assessment and post-assessment. Students took their pre-assessments this week. I will give students a chance to look over their graded pre-assessments, before I keep them for the remainder of the year. At the end of the year, students will retake it. They will find it rewarding to compare the two assessments! Due to absences/time in nurse's office, some students were not able to complete the pre-assessments. Since we are diving right into the curriculum next week, there won't be time for them to make it up. It's okay. HA is enrichment and does not go towards report cards. Even though those students won't have a completed pre-assessment to compare at the end of the year, they'll surely realize they grew a ton in HA!!!